Abstract: A modular furniture system capable of being arranged in different configurations in a settee area of a bowling center, for example, is disclosed. The furniture system includes at least one modular furniture element with a fastening mechanism which includes a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly of the fastening mechanism includes an engaging element which extends through at least one component of the first assembly and attaches to a component of the second assembly of an adjacent modular furniture element.

Abstract: A string bowling pin as described herein incorporates one or more improvements that extend the time between maintenance and repair events that might otherwise be required at the place where the string leads from the top of the pin. A free-floating bushing improves the longevity of the string and pin connection. In another example, a radiused opening at the top of the pin improves the longevity of the string and pin connection. Also, both the improved bushing and radiused opening at the top of the pin, either alone or together, make the pin less likely to tangle with other strings and pins during use.

Abstract: A seating system with an elastically moveable backrest capable of being arranged in different configurations in a settee area of a bowling center is disclosed. The seating system includes a configurable seating arrangement including at least one bench seat configured to accommodate one or more users and a respective number of elastically moveable backrests for each of the one or more users. The configurable seating arrangement further includes a bracket assembly which attaches the respective number of elastically moveable backrests to the at least one bench seat.

Abstract: A prefabricated flooring system used in a section of a bowling lane such as an approach section. The flooring system includes a plurality of wooden boards having a longitudinal axis. The plurality of wooden boards each having substantially flat side edges along the longitudinal axis. Interior boards of the plurality of wooden boards are bonded together by an adhesive applied on the side edges and two of the outermost boards of the plurality of boards are bonded only on one side edge by the adhesive to adjacent corresponding interior boards to form a preformed approach section of wooden boards. In one aspect, the boards have a thickness of approximately that of the bowling lane. In another aspect, the preformed approach section has a width greater than that of the bowling lane.

Abstract: A bowling pin including a body having a head, a neck, a ball line portion, and a base all integrally formed of a synthetic material. The body includes a hollow area and a longitudinal axis of the hollow area extends generally perpendicularly to a substantially planar bottom surface of the base. A method of manufacturing a bowling pin includes providing a mold shell having a mold cavity shaped substantially as a bowling pin, disposing a mandrel inside a mold cavity, introducing material into the mold cavity, cooling the material inside the mold cavity, removing the mandrel from the mold cavity, removing the material from the mold cavity, and cooling the material outside the mold cavity.

Abstract: An elevator assembly having a looped track assembly and a chain assembly having rollers which roll on the looped track assembly. The chain assembly includes spaced apart pin holders extending from the chain. A sprocket drive assembly engages the chain assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of beveling gripping holes of bowling balls. A method includes creating a bevel at an edge of a hole of the bowling ball by removing material from the bowling ball using a rotary tool equipped with a shaping bit that extends into the hole.

Abstract: A bowling bumper system is provided. The bowling bumper system and more particularly an actuator or actuator assembly is decoupled from the bumpers, themselves, and configured to move the bumpers into an extended or retracted position.

Abstract: A bowling pin including a body having a head, a neck, a ball line portion, and a base all integrally formed of a synthetic material. The body includes a hollow area and a longitudinal axis of the hollow area extends generally perpendicularly to a substantially planar bottom surface of the base. A method of manufacturing a bowling pin includes providing a mold shell having a mold cavity shaped substantially as a bowling pin, disposing a mandrel inside a mold cavity, introducing material into the mold cavity, cooling the material inside the mold cavity, removing the mandrel from the mold cavity, removing the material from the mold cavity, and cooling the material outside the mold cavity.

Abstract: A bowling pin storage bin assembly for use as part of a bowling pin delivery system of a pinspotter apparatus, as well as a method of manufacturing such bin. The storage bin is molded as a one-piece article having a plurality of cavities or pockets for storing bowling pins in an essentially horizontal plane above a pin spotter and for delivering the pins to a plurality of pin cups or a pin spotter for spotting on a pin deck.